Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are prone to "hallucinations," meaning they can produce fabricated information when answering questions. This may include inventing non‑existent cases, providing incorrect citations, or misquoting legislative provisions. In addition, ChatGPT does not have access to most lower‑court judgments or recent decisions and tends to prioritise cases that are frequently discussed on publicly available websites rather than those most relevant or authoritative. For many this means AI cannot be used in legal practice or research.

This workshop addresses these risks and provides a methodology to overcome them. In essence, you should never believe a word written by AI. But that does not mean AI is an inappropriate tool for legal research and developing legal arguments. AI can be used to locate, summarise and analyse primary and secondary sources of law faster than any research method. So long as these materials are located and checked using traditional methods of legal research generative AI can be used with 100% accuracy. This workshop will equip you with the skills and methodology to over any issues with hallucinations and fictitious case law.

This workshop is designed for solicitors and barristers practicing law in Australia. Whether you are at the beginning of your legal career or have decades of experience, artificial intelligence has the potential to transform the way you work and significantly increase your productivity.

AI can now locate primary sources of law faster than any traditional method of legal research. More importantly, its ability to distil and summarise the key passages of lengthy and complex judgments in seconds is a genuine game changer.

Whether you have already begun experimenting with AI and wish to refine your techniques, or you are completely new to the technology and curious about its potential, this workshop will give you the practical skills needed to harness AI effectively. You will learn how to integrate AI into your legal research and case preparation processes in a way that improves efficiency without compromising legal accuracy.

No. AI is a supplementary tool, not a substitute for professional legal judgment. While it can rapidly retrieve and synthesise information, it cannot:

• Apply nuanced legal reasoning;

• Understand factual complexity;

• Make value-based or strategic decisions.

Practitioners must verify, cross-check, and interpret all outputs, and the workshop explains a process for ensuring accuracy.

Proficiency in the use of AI is highly likely to become an essential skill for legal professionals, with many entry‑level roles at risk of being replaced by AI-driven processes. Attending this workshop will ensure you stay ahead of the curve by equipping you with the practical AI skills needed to remain competitive and thrive as the profession evolves.

You do not need a subscription or prior experience with AI to attend the workshop. During the session, we will demonstrate the strengths and limitations of ChatGPT and Lexis+ AI, helping you make an informed decision about whether subscribing to either tool is right for you.